Tooth brush guard



April 18, 1939.

F. M. BoucHARb 2,154,435 TOOTH BRUSH GUARD Filed April 2, 1937 Stream;

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTH BRUSH GUARD Frank M. Bouchard, St. Elmo, Ala.

Application April 2, 1937, Serial No. 134,632

1 Claim.

terial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard which automatically is secured to the bristle portion when inserted thereon and does not require catches or any other means for attaining this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guard that is attractive, simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object is to provide a guard for the bristles of tooth brushes which insures the sanitary condition of the bristles and thus avoids dirty brushes, with their attendant danger of germs etc.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the guard is made.

Figure 2 shows the guard in assembled position, and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the guard with the brush inserted therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral i represents a blank of "viscoloid or the like material and the same may be of any suitable color.

The blank is substantially in the form of a heart for a purpose to be disclosed later and has a V-shaped notch 2 in its central top portion, while the lower portion of the blank has tapering sides 3 to a point.

Between the point 3 and the top portion of the blank, straight sides 4 and flattened corners 5 are provided, while straight top portionsB extend on both sides of notch 2.

In forming the guard of the present invention, the blank I is folded and creased from the notch 2 and point so that the blank is now doubled on itself.

Following this step, the sides 4 are also folded and creased toward each other and brought in overlapping relation. The sides 4 are secured in this overlapping relation by means of a staple I or other securing means, and a similar staple 8 is utilized to secure the portions 6 together, thus completing the assembly.

The securing of the sides 4 and portions 6 may be done with any conventional stapling machine.

The notch- 2 serves as a guide or indicator for the initial folding or crease l as, being centrally located, it indicates the line of division to assure that the blank is folded in equal portions. A similar function for the creases H is served by the flattened corners 5 in that the crease begins where the straight portions 6 end to form the corners.

In its assembled form the guard resembles a triangle and the base is formed by the stapled sides 4, which receive the back of the bristle portion of a tooth brush 9. The movement of the brush into the guard is limited by the stapled l6 portions 6 which partially close the end of the guard, while entrance is made through the open mouth portion formed by the point which extends beyond the base portion and bristles.

Owing to the decreasing diameter of the guard from its base portion to the top creased portion,

a wedge like grip is given to the bristles when inserted in this guard. This eliminates the use of catches or the like to secure the guard on the bristles and adds to its simplicity. Should the bristles be wet when inserted in the guard, the

partially open end of the guard will allow the dripping to escape and not collect in the guard.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A toothbrush cover comprising a single blank of relatively stiff waterproof material, said blank having a notch in the center of its upper edge, the corners of said blank being cut away adjacent said notched upper edge, straight sides adjacent said cut away corners, tapering sections adjacent said straight sides, said blank adapted to be creased in a longitudinal direction from said notched upper edge and cut away corners, said notched upper edge forming stop means and said tapering sections forming an opening for insertion of a toothbrush, said straight sides adapted to snugly embrace the toothbrush bristles, and staples for fastening said creased portions together.

FRANK M. BOUCHARD. 

